Former MTV teen mom charged with animal cruelty for starving her dog

Benson, now renamed Hank, only weighed 30 pounds when he was found wandering a Louisville street looking for food.

The Arrow Fund

Madeleine Cornish, 22, was arrested on Monday in Louisville, Kentucky and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty for allowing her dog to almost starve to death and then abandoning him reported wlky.com.

On July 10, Cornish had been moving from one home to another and left her five-month-old Mastiff alone in the house with no food or water. After three weeks, Cornish returned to find her dog just skin and bones, and instead of rushing the dog named Benson to the vet for emergency treatment, Cornish abandoned the starving dog on a Louisville road; allegedly to avoid prosecution for animal neglect.

When the starving dog showed up on a woman's porch near South Ewing Street, Benson was brought to the Arrow Fund, a Kentucky based nonprofit who provide medical funding for abused, tortured and neglected animals. On the organization's Facebook page, Benson's condition, who has since been renamed Hank, was described as follows:

"HE WAS A BODY SCALE 1 ON A 1 TO 9 SCALE . 1 IS THE LOWEST NUMBER BEFORE DEATH. HANK IS NOW IN A FOSTER HOME AFTER A LENGTHY INTENSE HOSPITAL STAY. HANK IS NOW RECEIVING THE LOVE AND CARE THAT HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ALL ALONG..."

Hank weighed only 30 pounds at the time he was found; less than half the weight a Mastiff puppy should weigh at five to six months of age.

Cornish participated in an MTV 2010 show called "Baby High" which profiled four pregnant teenagers attending a Westport Alternative High School TAPP (Teenage Parenting Program).

Hank has been making excellent progress, although there is no guarantee the dog won't suffer some long term effects as he matures after the severe starvation he endured as a pup. Meanwhile, he is being fostered until he is ready to be adopted. His latest update describes how Hank already has furniture privileges and is finally enjoying his young life

"... They are so excited to shower this sweet baby with love and attention. It is so hard for any of us to understand how anyone let this precious boy suffer.

Hank is still being seen regularly at All Pets to monitor his weight and to ensure that his body is adjusting to the increase in food intake and weight gain. He is on the right path, weighing in at 52.2lbs! He is making such great progress, and we can't wait to see him improve as the days go on. Please continue to pray for Hank!"

If convicted of a Class A misdemeanor, Cornish could face a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $500 fine.